








































Interest Group Reports Small Library


16

Small Libraries
Elli Cucksey, Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University, Chair

MEMBERS PRESENT

• Elli Cucksey, Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University, 
Chair

• John Dechant, Meadville Lombard Theological School
• Stephanie Garrett, Catholic International University
• Karla Grafton, Hartford International University for Religion 

and Peace
• Stephen Sweeney, St. John Vianney Seminary
• Vance Thomas, University of Dubuque

AGENDA

1) Call to order
a) Officer introduction (succession planning)
b) Group introductions

2) Old business
3) New business

a) Conference reflections
b) Ideas for future conference sessions

4) Discussion of challenges/burning issues
5) Adjourn

 
Introductions were made, and Vance explained his need to step 
down as chair that arose from him accepting a seat on the board. 
Elli accepted the position of chair and asked for a volunteer for vice 
chair. The job of the vice chair is primarily to attend meetings, take 
notes if there is not a secretary elected or present, and be willing 
to be the next chair. Stephanie Garrett accepted this responsibility. 

Further discussions centered around how small the group had 
become and whether that might be an artifact of these meetings 
being held online. It is accepted that the idea of holding them online 
is to allow participation by more than those who are attending the 
conference in person, but that does not seem to be the result. It 



Interest Group Reports  17

was suggested, and the group agreed, that an in-person gathering 
should be held at the conference next year for those in attendance. 
While that cannot be our official business gathering, it might renew 
connections, encourage socializing among members, draw newer 
members to our group, and strengthen existing relationships. 

Discussions of possible conference sessions for our group to propose, 
or that we wish to see, included library management with limited 
staffing; and A.I., specifically how to use it well. 

Our discussion of current challenges in our libraries focused on the 
challenges of being reactionary to everything and not being able to 
grasp proactive actions due to the “tyranny of the urgent.” There 
was also a conversation about the feasibility and practices of mail-
ing books to patrons. 

The group agreed to meet again in October to further discuss pos-
sible conference sessions before submission deadlines, and to plan a 
possible Wednesday meet-up for the Pittsburgh conference in 2025. 


